Introduction
Calculating the percentage of marks obtained in an exam is simple and straightforward. It just requires you to divide your total marks obtained by the maximum possible marks and multiply the result by 100. In this article, we will discuss step-by-step how to calculate percentage along with examples, formulas, tips and frequently asked questions.
Step 1: Know Your Total Marks Obtained
The first step is to know how many marks you have obtained in the exam. This will be the numerator in the calculation. For example, if you have obtained 540 marks, then 540 will be the total marks obtained. Ensure you have the correct total.
Step 2: Know The Maximum Possible Marks
The next step is to know the maximum marks for the exam. This will be the denominator. For example, if the exam is of 900 marks, then 900 will be the maximum possible marks. Sometimes this is also called ‘out of marks’.
Step 3: Divide Total Marks by Maximum Marks
Now divide the total marks obtained by you (numerator) by the maximum possible marks (denominator). Continuing the above example, divide 540 by 900. This will give you 0.6.
Step 4: Multiply The Result by 100
Once you have divided the total marks by maximum marks, multiply the result by 100. In the above example, 0.6 x 100 is 60.
Step 5: Write Your Percentage of Marks Obtained
The final step is to write your percentage of marks obtained. Based on the above example, the percentage of marks obtained is 60%. So you can write your percentage as – I have obtained 60% marks.
Tips for Calculating Accurately
Here are some useful tips to calculate percentage accurately:
- Avoid rounding off marks while calculating
- Use exact marks obtained and maximum marks
- Do the division first followed by multiplication
- Double check your calculations
- Use a calculator for error-free results
Common Scenarios and Examples
Let us take a look at some common scenarios and examples to understand how to calculate percentage of marks:
- Harry obtained 480 marks out of 650. His percentage of marks will be (480/650) x 100 = 73.84%
- Elizabeth scored 395 out of 500 marks. Her percentage is (395/500) x 100 = 79%
- Robert secured 880 marks in an exam of 1000 marks. His percentage is (880/1000) x 100 = 88%
- Amy obtained 735 out of 900 marks. Her percentage of marks is (735/900) x 100 = 81.66%
As you can see, the process remains the same. Just divide total marks obtained by maximum possible marks and multiply by 100.
Formulas for Percentage Calculation
The main formulas for calculating percentage of marks are:
- Percentage = (Total Marks Obtained/Maximum Marks) x 100
- Percentage = (Marks Obtained/Out of Marks) x 100
- % of Marks = (Numerator/Denominator) x 100
So whichever formula you use, the method is to divide total marks by maximum marks and then multiply by 100.
Calculate Quickly Using Shortcuts
You can use some shortcuts to calculate percentages quickly without going through the detailed steps:
- Move the decimal point two places to the right and attach % sign. For example, 0.6 becomes 60%.
- To get 1% of a number, divide it by 100. So 5% of 1000 is 1000/100 = 50.
- To get x% of a number, first convert x% to decimal and multiply. For example, 15% of 400 is 0.15 x 400 = 60.
Calculate Percentage for Multiple Subjects
When you have marks from different subjects, calculate percentage for each subject separately. Then take the average to determine overall percentage.
For example, if you have 80% in Maths, 70% in Science and 60% in English, add the three percentages (80+70+60) and divide by total subjects (3). This gives an average percentage of 70%.
Use Online Percentage Calculators
There are many free online percentage calculators available. You can simply enter your obtained marks and total marks to get the percentage calculated instantly. This helps avoid manual calculations.
Online calculators are handy for verifying your calculations too. But do not become dependent on them. Learn the underlying formulas and methods.
Conclusion
These were the key steps involved in calculating percentage of marks for an exam. The process involves dividing total marks obtained by maximum possible marks and then multiplying by 100. Understand the theory and practice plenty of questions to become adept at percentage calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions How to Calculate Percentage of Marks
Here are some common FAQs about calculating percentage of marks:
Q1. How do I calculate percentage when only pass marks are given?
Ans: If only pass marks are given, assume it to be the minimum required score. So if pass marks are 40 out of 100, take obtained marks as 40 and maximum marks as 100 to calculate percentage.
Q2. What if I score more than total marks, how to calculate percentage?
Ans: In some cases, bonus marks may be awarded taking total score above maximum marks. In that case, take the obtained marks as numerator and original maximum marks as denominator.
Q3. Is it ok to round off marks while finding percentage?
Ans: It is advisable not to round off marks while calculating percentage as it can lead to inaccurate results. Use the exact marks obtained and maximum marks.
Q4. How to calculate percentage for grades like A1, A2, B1 etc?
Ans: Convert each grade to its equivalent numerical percentage based on the grade boundaries provided. Then calculate overall percentage.
Q5. Is there an online calculator to find percentage instantly?
Ans: Yes, there are many good online percentage calculators that can calculate your percentage as you enter the obtained and maximum marks. This saves time.
